Lornie Trail/Sime Track

Backdated to last year ~ One of the places I went for my nature walk is the tracks/trails around MacRitchie Reservoir. I'd being there only a couple of times & the first time, we(my guy & me) started off from MacRitchie Reservoir Park, taking Lornie Trail that goes through secondary forest. Joining Sime Track, which in part, runs along the shoreline of MacRitchie Reservoir & after more jungle, ending our hike at Venus Drive. Quite a trek for a little Hamster me. =P

MacRitchie Reservoir


Me @MacRitchie Reservoir Park.


Map of tracks & trails around MacRitchie Reservoir.


The second time, due to time constrain, we started off from Lornie Road, near Sime Road, taking a side trail into Sime Track till Jelutong Tower & turn back. For most birders, this is the shortest way from the main road to Jelutong Tower which is a popular spot for birding(bird spotting or photography).

@Lornie Trail


Now, a little note on Do & Don't at such places & these rules/laws apply to all Singapore's nature reserves & nature parks.

Rules/Laws for visitors to nature reserves & nature parks.


And some advices:
Wear steady, comfortable footwear. Some parts of the track/trail are washed out, leaving a narrow trench in the center of the path & uneven footings on both sides.
If you intend to hike for long distance, bring food & most importantly, plenty of water. Expect for a ranger station a distance away, there's no facility in there for miles.
Due to the danger of falling branches or tress, do not go there in stormy weather or rainy/monsoon season.

If you like nature like I do, it's a lovely place to visit.

Go Green


Fishes in the water.


Crickets & Grasshoppers


A beetle & a water strider.

 
Nymph of a Fly & a molding Katydid.


As usual, lots of monkeys around & they are mostly Long-tailed Macaques.

Monkey Grooming Service

 
Enjoying Rambutans


Most of the monkeys are familiar with human presence & bold enough that you can get close to them, but please, do not feed them & be attentive of your belongings when they are nearby.

Rubbish Chute Raider


Peel Fresh


Crocodiles in the reservoir? I don't think there are crocs, but there are many pretenders… Malayan Water Monitors.

Wannabe Crocodile


It's always a delight to catch sight of a Green-crested Lizard because I'd being seeing too many invasive Changeable Lizards.

A Juvenile & an adult Green-crested Lizard


A Butterfly Haven? Definitely!

Love of the Lesser Grass Blue.


From left to right, top to bottom: Chocolate Pansy, Common Birdwing, Malayan Lascar & Cruiser.


From left to right, top to bottom: Horsfield's Baron-female, Chocolate Grass Yellow, Branded Imperial & Three Spot Grass Yellow.


Knight & Malay Viscount.

 
From left to right, top to bottom: Ypthima horsfieldii humei, Eurema simulatrix tecmessa, Tree Yellow & Paintbrush Swift


It's also a Dragonfly Paradise which a number of uncommon or rare species can only be found there.

Dragonfly Paradise


Blue Sprite, Violet Sprite & Common Flashwing.


Coastal Glider & female Crimson Dropwing.


From left to right, top to bottom:  Common Blue Skimmer(male), Sapphire Flutterer, male Trumpet Tail & Dark-tipped Forest-skimmer.


From left to right, top to bottom: Male & female Restless Demon, Green-eyed Percher & male Black-tipped Percher.


Common Scarlet & Common Flangetail.


Treehugger, Pond Adjutant & Variable Sentinel.


From left to right, top to bottom: Variegated Green Skimmer, Bronze Flutterer, female Scarlet Grenadier & Dancing Dropwing.


Jelutong Tower in the middle section of Sime Track is popular with many birders, but only during the fruiting season. That's when many uncommon or rare residential birds can be observed when they flocked to the fruiting trees. Sadly, I knew of this bit of info a little too late & was there at the wrong time.

Birding Season

 
Grey-headed Fish Eagle & Blue-throated Bee-eater.


Pacific Swallow feeding chicks & Greater Racket-tailed Drongo.

 
Juvenile Crimson Sunbird & Plain Sunbird? (ID unsure).


Striped Tit-Babbler, adult & juvenile.


Olive-winged Bulbul & Cream-vented Bulbul.


As I'm writing this, it's still the monsoon season. Once it's over, I will definitely go back again.

I Shall Return!


To be continued… in the near future.